Week In The News: ISIS, Airbags, Goodbye Letterman

ISIS rolls on. A TPP vote. Biggest recall ever – airbags. And Letterman’s last bow. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

The Islamic State, on a roll this week. Ramadi down. Palmyra down. American strategy and the future of the Middle East, in question. And then, all kinds of news. Big banks, cheating and fined big. Billions. The biggest recall in history. 34 million airbags. Oil spill in Santa Barbara. Biker bloodbath in Waco. Alleged Chinese spies. Bin Laden’s bookshelf. Baltimore indictments for all six cops. TPP. NSA. David Letterman’s last show. And Hillary Clinton answers a question or two. This hour, On Point: Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.
 – Tom Ashbrook

Lisa Desjardins, Political Director for PBS NewsHour. (@lisadnews)

Trudy Rubin, foreign affairs columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer. (@trudyrubin)

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst. (@JackBeattyNPR)

New York Times: ISIS Fighters Seize Control of Syrian City of Palmyra, and Ancient Ruins - "Palmyra has extra resonance as home to some of the world’s most magnificent remnants of antiquity, as well as the grimmer modern landmark of Tadmur Prison, where Syrian dissidents have languished over the decades. But for the fighters on the ground, the city of 50,000 people is significant because it sits among gas fields and astride a network of roads across the country’s central desert. "

Washington Post: Flawed Takata air bags in 34 million vehicles lead to biggest recall in history - "Nearly 34 million cars and trucks nationwide were declared defective Tuesday because of deadly air bags made by auto-parts giant Takata, in what is expected to be the biggest recall of any consumer product in U.S. history. The expanded recall doubled the number of vehicles believed to have the air bags, which can blast out sharp metal shrapnel when deployed, a flaw that has been linked to six deaths and more than 100 injuries. The nationwide recall effort is expected to be a logistical nightmare for the auto industry, costing billions of dollars and potentially overwhelming automakers, parts suppliers and dealerships already struggling to find enough safe replacement parts."

Associated Press: David Letterman leaves late night with thanks and a smile - "When David Letterman signed off CBS' 'Late Show' for good Wednesday, he closed the book on more than his own incomparable career in late night. He closed out a broadcasting epoch that also encompasses his mentor, 'Tonight Show' host Johnny Carson, who retired with great emotion and ceremony in 1992. Dave also called it a day for Steve Allen and Jack Paar, who back in the 1950s broke ground as each took a turn as the host of 'Tonight.'....Dave's much-awaited finale was surprisingly unsurprising for such a momentous occasion. But it was clearly what Letterman wanted for himself: a wrapping up and an occasion to say thanks. He seemed to enjoy himself greatly in the process."